used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Mr. Carlyle, standing outside the nursery door, stayed a moment until the sweet low voice had reached the end of the verse, then, turning the handle very gently, entered the room on tiptoe.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading Baby, you are not a nice little girl and I shan't be able to go on loving you if you don't go to sleep soon."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "Lady-bird, lady-bird, fly away home, The field-mouse has gone to her nest; The daisies have shut up their sleepy red eyes, And the birds and the bees are at rest."
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Lady-bird, lady-bird, fly away home, The field-mouse has gone to her nest; The daisies have shut up their sleepy red eyes, And the birds and the bees are at rest."
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Lady-bird, lady-bird, fly away home, The glow-worm is lighting her lamp----" "Oh, dear!" as two round blue eyes looked up at her, full of sleepy wickedness, "She is as wide awake when I began!
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "Lady-bird, lady-bird, fly away home, The field-mouse has gone to her nest; The daisies have shut up their sleepy red eyes, And the birds and the bees are at rest."
awakeadjectiveUS /əˈweɪk/
not in a state of sleep; completely conscious
From this reading "Lady-bird, lady-bird, fly away home, The glow-worm is lighting her lamp----" "Oh, dear!" as two round blue eyes looked up at her, full of sleepy wickedness, "She is as wide awake when I began!
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading "Lady-bird, lady-bird, fly away home, The field-mouse has gone to her nest; The daisies have shut up their sleepy red eyes, And the birds and the bees are at rest."
a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk
From this reading Baby, you are not a nice little girl and I shan't be able to go on loving you if you don't go to sleep soon."
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Baby, you are not a nice little girl and I shan't be able to go on loving you if you don't go to sleep soon."
beesnounUS /biːz/
plural of “bee” — any of numerous hairy-bodied insects including social and solitary species
From this reading "Lady-bird, lady-bird, fly away home, The field-mouse has gone to her nest; The daisies have shut up their sleepy red eyes, And the birds and the bees are at rest."
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Faith looked up with a smile, but with a warning finger held out, while in a lower and more crooning voice she began the next verse:
plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings
From this reading "Lady-bird, lady-bird, fly away home, The field-mouse has gone to her nest; The daisies have shut up their sleepy red eyes, And the birds and the bees are at rest."
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading "Lady-bird, lady-bird, fly away home, The glow-worm is lighting her lamp----" "Oh, dear!" as two round blue eyes looked up at her, full of sleepy wickedness, "She is as wide awake when I began!
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Faith looked up with a smile, but with a warning finger held out, while in a lower and more crooning voice she began the next verse:
CarlylenounUS /ˈkɑːrlaɪl/
Scottish historian who wrote about the French Revolution (1795-1881)
From this reading Mr. Carlyle, standing outside the nursery door, stayed a moment until the sweet low voice had reached the end of the verse, then, turning the handle very gently, entered the room on tiptoe.
crooningnounUS /ˈkruːnɪŋ/
singing in a soft low tone
From this reading Faith looked up with a smile, but with a warning finger held out, while in a lower and more crooning voice she began the next verse:
daisiesnounUS /ˈdeɪziz/
plural of “daisy” — any of numerous composite plants having flower heads with well-developed ray flowers usually arranged in a single whorl
From this reading "Lady-bird, lady-bird, fly away home, The field-mouse has gone to her nest; The daisies have shut up their sleepy red eyes, And the birds and the bees are at rest."
dearly loved
From this reading "Lady-bird, lady-bird, fly away home, The glow-worm is lighting her lamp----" "Oh, dear!" as two round blue eyes looked up at her, full of sleepy wickedness, "She is as wide awake when I began!
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Baby, you are not a nice little girl and I shan't be able to go on loving you if you don't go to sleep soon."
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Mr. Carlyle, standing outside the nursery door, stayed a moment until the sweet low voice had reached the end of the verse, then, turning the handle very gently, entered the room on tiptoe.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading Mr. Carlyle, standing outside the nursery door, stayed a moment until the sweet low voice had reached the end of the verse, then, turning the handle very gently, entered the room on tiptoe.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading Mr. Carlyle, standing outside the nursery door, stayed a moment until the sweet low voice had reached the end of the verse, then, turning the handle very gently, entered the room on tiptoe.
opinion or judgment
From this reading "Lady-bird, lady-bird, fly away home, The field-mouse has gone to her nest; The daisies have shut up their sleepy red eyes, And the birds and the bees are at rest."
a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny
From this reading Faith looked up with a smile, but with a warning finger held out, while in a lower and more crooning voice she began the next verse:
field-mouse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Lady-bird, lady-bird, fly away home, The field-mouse has gone to her nest; The daisies have shut up their sleepy red eyes, And the birds and the bees are at rest."
feel or handle with the fingers
From this reading Faith looked up with a smile, but with a warning finger held out, while in a lower and more crooning voice she began the next verse:
travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading "Lady-bird, lady-bird, fly away home, The field-mouse has gone to her nest; The daisies have shut up their sleepy red eyes, And the birds and the bees are at rest."
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading "Lady-bird, lady-bird, fly away home, The glow-worm is lighting her lamp----" "Oh, dear!" as two round blue eyes looked up at her, full of sleepy wickedness, "She is as wide awake when I began!
in a gradual manner
From this reading Mr. Carlyle, standing outside the nursery door, stayed a moment until the sweet low voice had reached the end of the verse, then, turning the handle very gently, entered the room on tiptoe.
a young female
From this reading Baby, you are not a nice little girl and I shan't be able to go on loving you if you don't go to sleep soon."
glow-worm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Lady-bird, lady-bird, fly away home, The glow-worm is lighting her lamp----" "Oh, dear!" as two round blue eyes looked up at her, full of sleepy wickedness, "She is as wide awake when I began!
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Baby, you are not a nice little girl and I shan't be able to go on loving you if you don't go to sleep soon."
destroyed or killed
From this reading "Lady-bird, lady-bird, fly away home, The field-mouse has gone to her nest; The daisies have shut up their sleepy red eyes, And the birds and the bees are at rest."
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Mr. Carlyle, standing outside the nursery door, stayed a moment until the sweet low voice had reached the end of the verse, then, turning the handle very gently, entered the room on tiptoe.
be in charge of, act on, or dispose of
From this reading Mr. Carlyle, standing outside the nursery door, stayed a moment until the sweet low voice had reached the end of the verse, then, turning the handle very gently, entered the room on tiptoe.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Lady-bird, lady-bird, fly away home, The field-mouse has gone to her nest; The daisies have shut up their sleepy red eyes, And the birds and the bees are at rest."
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "Lady-bird, lady-bird, fly away home, The field-mouse has gone to her nest; The daisies have shut up their sleepy red eyes, And the birds and the bees are at rest."
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading Faith looked up with a smile, but with a warning finger held out, while in a lower and more crooning voice she began the next verse:
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "Lady-bird, lady-bird, fly away home, The field-mouse has gone to her nest; The daisies have shut up their sleepy red eyes, And the birds and the bees are at rest."
where you live at a particular time
From this reading "Lady-bird, lady-bird, fly away home, The field-mouse has gone to her nest; The daisies have shut up their sleepy red eyes, And the birds and the bees are at rest."
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Lady-bird, lady-bird, fly away home, The glow-worm is lighting her lamp----" "Oh, dear!" as two round blue eyes looked up at her, full of sleepy wickedness, "She is as wide awake when I began!
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Baby, you are not a nice little girl and I shan't be able to go on loving you if you don't go to sleep soon."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Faith looked up with a smile, but with a warning finger held out, while in a lower and more crooning voice she began the next verse:
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Lady-bird, lady-bird, fly away home, The glow-worm is lighting her lamp----" "Oh, dear!" as two round blue eyes looked up at her, full of sleepy wickedness, "She is as wide awake when I began!
Lady-bird
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Lady-bird, lady-bird, fly away home, The field-mouse has gone to her nest; The daisies have shut up their sleepy red eyes, And the birds and the bees are at rest."
an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading "Lady-bird, lady-bird, fly away home, The glow-worm is lighting her lamp----" "Oh, dear!" as two round blue eyes looked up at her, full of sleepy wickedness, "She is as wide awake when I began!
lightingnounUS /ˈlaɪtɪŋ/
having abundant light or illumination
From this reading "Lady-bird, lady-bird, fly away home, The glow-worm is lighting her lamp----" "Oh, dear!" as two round blue eyes looked up at her, full of sleepy wickedness, "She is as wide awake when I began!
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Baby, you are not a nice little girl and I shan't be able to go on loving you if you don't go to sleep soon."
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Faith looked up with a smile, but with a warning finger held out, while in a lower and more crooning voice she began the next verse:
feeling or showing love and affection
From this reading Baby, you are not a nice little girl and I shan't be able to go on loving you if you don't go to sleep soon."
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Mr. Carlyle, standing outside the nursery door, stayed a moment until the sweet low voice had reached the end of the verse, then, turning the handle very gently, entered the room on tiptoe.
move something or somebody to a lower position
From this reading Faith looked up with a smile, but with a warning finger held out, while in a lower and more crooning voice she began the next verse:
a particular point in time
From this reading Mr. Carlyle, standing outside the nursery door, stayed a moment until the sweet low voice had reached the end of the verse, then, turning the handle very gently, entered the room on tiptoe.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Faith looked up with a smile, but with a warning finger held out, while in a lower and more crooning voice she began the next verse:
a form of address for a man
From this reading Mr. Carlyle, standing outside the nursery door, stayed a moment until the sweet low voice had reached the end of the verse, then, turning the handle very gently, entered the room on tiptoe.
a structure in which animals lay eggs or give birth to their young
From this reading "Lady-bird, lady-bird, fly away home, The field-mouse has gone to her nest; The daisies have shut up their sleepy red eyes, And the birds and the bees are at rest."
immediately following in time or order
From this reading Faith looked up with a smile, but with a warning finger held out, while in a lower and more crooning voice she began the next verse:
pleasant or pleasing or agreeable in nature or appearance
From this reading Baby, you are not a nice little girl and I shan't be able to go on loving you if you don't go to sleep soon."
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Baby, you are not a nice little girl and I shan't be able to go on loving you if you don't go to sleep soon."
nurserynounUS /ˈnɜːrsəri/
a child's room for a baby
From this reading Mr. Carlyle, standing outside the nursery door, stayed a moment until the sweet low voice had reached the end of the verse, then, turning the handle very gently, entered the room on tiptoe.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Mr. Carlyle, standing outside the nursery door, stayed a moment until the sweet low voice had reached the end of the verse, then, turning the handle very gently, entered the room on tiptoe.
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading "Lady-bird, lady-bird, fly away home, The glow-worm is lighting her lamp----" "Oh, dear!" as two round blue eyes looked up at her, full of sleepy wickedness, "She is as wide awake when I began!
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Mr. Carlyle, standing outside the nursery door, stayed a moment until the sweet low voice had reached the end of the verse, then, turning the handle very gently, entered the room on tiptoe.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Faith looked up with a smile, but with a warning finger held out, while in a lower and more crooning voice she began the next verse:
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading Mr. Carlyle, standing outside the nursery door, stayed a moment until the sweet low voice had reached the end of the verse, then, turning the handle very gently, entered the room on tiptoe.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading Mr. Carlyle, standing outside the nursery door, stayed a moment until the sweet low voice had reached the end of the verse, then, turning the handle very gently, entered the room on tiptoe.
red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
From this reading "Lady-bird, lady-bird, fly away home, The field-mouse has gone to her nest; The daisies have shut up their sleepy red eyes, And the birds and the bees are at rest."
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading "Lady-bird, lady-bird, fly away home, The field-mouse has gone to her nest; The daisies have shut up their sleepy red eyes, And the birds and the bees are at rest."
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading Mr. Carlyle, standing outside the nursery door, stayed a moment until the sweet low voice had reached the end of the verse, then, turning the handle very gently, entered the room on tiptoe.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading "Lady-bird, lady-bird, fly away home, The glow-worm is lighting her lamp----" "Oh, dear!" as two round blue eyes looked up at her, full of sleepy wickedness, "She is as wide awake when I began!
shan't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Baby, you are not a nice little girl and I shan't be able to go on loving you if you don't go to sleep soon."
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Faith looked up with a smile, but with a warning finger held out, while in a lower and more crooning voice she began the next verse:
move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut
From this reading "Lady-bird, lady-bird, fly away home, The field-mouse has gone to her nest; The daisies have shut up their sleepy red eyes, And the birds and the bees are at rest."
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading Baby, you are not a nice little girl and I shan't be able to go on loving you if you don't go to sleep soon."
sleepyadjectiveUS /ˈsliːpi/
ready to fall asleep
From this reading "Lady-bird, lady-bird, fly away home, The field-mouse has gone to her nest; The daisies have shut up their sleepy red eyes, And the birds and the bees are at rest."
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading Faith looked up with a smile, but with a warning finger held out, while in a lower and more crooning voice she began the next verse:
in the near future
From this reading Baby, you are not a nice little girl and I shan't be able to go on loving you if you don't go to sleep soon."
having a supporting base
From this reading Mr. Carlyle, standing outside the nursery door, stayed a moment until the sweet low voice had reached the end of the verse, then, turning the handle very gently, entered the room on tiptoe.
past form of “stay” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading Mr. Carlyle, standing outside the nursery door, stayed a moment until the sweet low voice had reached the end of the verse, then, turning the handle very gently, entered the room on tiptoe.
having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar
From this reading Mr. Carlyle, standing outside the nursery door, stayed a moment until the sweet low voice had reached the end of the verse, then, turning the handle very gently, entered the room on tiptoe.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Lady-bird, lady-bird, fly away home, The field-mouse has gone to her nest; The daisies have shut up their sleepy red eyes, And the birds and the bees are at rest."
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading "Lady-bird, lady-bird, fly away home, The field-mouse has gone to her nest; The daisies have shut up their sleepy red eyes, And the birds and the bees are at rest."
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Mr. Carlyle, standing outside the nursery door, stayed a moment until the sweet low voice had reached the end of the verse, then, turning the handle very gently, entered the room on tiptoe.
tiptoeverbUS /ˈtɪptoʊ/
walk on one's toes
From this reading Mr. Carlyle, standing outside the nursery door, stayed a moment until the sweet low voice had reached the end of the verse, then, turning the handle very gently, entered the room on tiptoe.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Lady-bird, lady-bird, fly away home, The field-mouse has gone to her nest; The daisies have shut up their sleepy red eyes, And the birds and the bees are at rest."
the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
From this reading Mr. Carlyle, standing outside the nursery door, stayed a moment until the sweet low voice had reached the end of the verse, then, turning the handle very gently, entered the room on tiptoe.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading "Lady-bird, lady-bird, fly away home, The glow-worm is lighting her lamp----" "Oh, dear!" as two round blue eyes looked up at her, full of sleepy wickedness, "She is as wide awake when I began!
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Mr. Carlyle, standing outside the nursery door, stayed a moment until the sweet low voice had reached the end of the verse, then, turning the handle very gently, entered the room on tiptoe.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "Lady-bird, lady-bird, fly away home, The field-mouse has gone to her nest; The daisies have shut up their sleepy red eyes, And the birds and the bees are at rest."
literature in metrical form
From this reading Mr. Carlyle, standing outside the nursery door, stayed a moment until the sweet low voice had reached the end of the verse, then, turning the handle very gently, entered the room on tiptoe.
precisely as stated
From this reading Mr. Carlyle, standing outside the nursery door, stayed a moment until the sweet low voice had reached the end of the verse, then, turning the handle very gently, entered the room on tiptoe.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading Mr. Carlyle, standing outside the nursery door, stayed a moment until the sweet low voice had reached the end of the verse, then, turning the handle very gently, entered the room on tiptoe.
a message informing of danger
From this reading Faith looked up with a smile, but with a warning finger held out, while in a lower and more crooning voice she began the next verse:
at the time that
From this reading "Lady-bird, lady-bird, fly away home, The glow-worm is lighting her lamp----" "Oh, dear!" as two round blue eyes looked up at her, full of sleepy wickedness, "She is as wide awake when I began!
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Faith looked up with a smile, but with a warning finger held out, while in a lower and more crooning voice she began the next verse:
wickednessnounUS /ˈwɪkədnəs/
morally objectionable behavior
From this reading "Lady-bird, lady-bird, fly away home, The glow-worm is lighting her lamp----" "Oh, dear!" as two round blue eyes looked up at her, full of sleepy wickedness, "She is as wide awake when I began!
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading "Lady-bird, lady-bird, fly away home, The glow-worm is lighting her lamp----" "Oh, dear!" as two round blue eyes looked up at her, full of sleepy wickedness, "She is as wide awake when I began!
in the company of; together with
From this reading Faith looked up with a smile, but with a warning finger held out, while in a lower and more crooning voice she began the next verse:
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading Baby, you are not a nice little girl and I shan't be able to go on loving you if you don't go to sleep soon."
